April 21, 2018 - Jacksonville, FL thru Isle of Hope, GA

We made our last port of call in Florida on March 29th on Amelia Island.  After 122 days of cruising the sunshine state we were officially 3 states away from Virginia.  Wow, timing is flying by.  Our first docking was in Brunswick, GA where we stayed for over 2 weeks.  With April 15th quickly approaching we took a road trip home, to do taxes and visit family.  We also unloaded the boat of all those things we thought were so important to have when we started our trip last May, that never got used.  Needless to say the rental car had things crammed in every corner.  10 hours later, we were all glad to get back to our dirt home and out of the car.  The week was busy but fun and when we left it was after many hugs and kisses, and no additional taxes due to Uncle Sam.  Yoohoo!

North Carolina state line - a bit blurry so let me translate, 'North Carolina Tar Heels 2017 College Basketball Men's National Champions'.  GO HEELS!  (Ken was less than appreciative, hehe)

We left Brunswick on the 17th and anchored out at Kilkenny Creek before arriving in Savannah on the 18th.  This is one of my 'had to come here' stops.  I had never been and couldn't wait to walk the squares and see all the historic homes.  Since there was no way to see it all, we took a extensive historical bus tour, our first full day there.  Our driver was fantastic and was even dressed in a colonial era outfit.  We got to drive through all the squares in the historical district, down the water front, past Forsyth Park and even into neighboring districts.  We learn a lot and it helped us to par down our list to must sees.  We took lots of great pics but unfortunately, Ken's camera took an unexpected swim or I should say un-swim into the Wilmington River at Thunder Bolt Marina.  I am sorry to say it did not survive its experience and all pics were lost were lost at sea.  :(  So, I have to make due with the few I have on my phone.  Guess we will just have to come back to Savannah and do it all over again.  :)  But our memories are firmly in place.  The historical district of the city was absolutely lovely, the history fascinating and the homes gorgeous.  I look forward to coming again.

Savannah - Mrs. Wilkes Kitchen - View up from our waiting spot in line of Mrs. Wilkes steps.  Line was down the block and got there an hour early to make sure we were in the first seating.  It was a southern family style lunch with more yummy selections than we had room on our plate for.  Worth the wait!

After leaving with full tummies we set out to walk the squares and explore.  There are monuments and statues everywhere dedicated to founding fathers, military and political leaders and heroes of all kinds.  It seems every old home is lovingly cared for.  What I enjoyed the most were all the vine covered entrances, steps and walls.  And the wrought iron stairs and gates added to the charm.  Some of sidewalks were even cobble stoned.  That made it a bit of challenge to balance walking without tripping while starring up at the homes.  But we manage to avoid any twisted ankles though did a bit of toe tripping. :)

On Madison Square we saw the Green-Meldrim House.  It's in a gothic style and was built in the 1850s by Charles Green, a wealthy cotton merchant and shipbuilder.  Though it was one of the most elaborate and expensive homes in Savannah, it is most famous for being the headquarters of General Sherman when the Federal troops marched unopposed into the city in 1864.

Savannah - Green-Meldrim House

It was a sunny day but hot and humid, so we made many stops to either rest in the shade of trees in the squares or tour a few air-conditioned historical homes.  All lovely and fascinating but picture-less for our blog.  I did get pics at Colonial Park Cemetery.  Since Ken's thinks I have an odd obsession with cemeteries, he's not surprised these were on my phone.  In my defense, it really is a very historical cemetery.  It opened in 1750 and by the time it was closed in 1850 to interments, there were 9000 graves sites.  Among some of the most famous buried here is Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Since it was closed before the Civil War, there are no Confederate soldiers buried.  

Savannah - Colonial Park Cemetery - This mausoleum became part of the iron gating around the cemetery when the city expanded the streets and put in sidewalks.  And actually many graves are under the streets and sidewalks surrounding the cemetery, to allow for symmetry when streets were paved.

Colonial Park Cemetery -  Over the years many headstones became separated from the gravesites.  Rather than dispose of them, they were set into the brick wall in the back of the cemetery.  Very interesting.

One of the homes we toured was Isaiah Davenport House on Columbia Square,  The federal style home as built in 1820 and was the first home saved and restored by Historic Savannah Foundation founded in 1955, to stop the destruction of historically significant buildings in Savannah.

Davenport House

Savannah - Wrought iron down spout in the shape of a fish.  Our tour guide told us about it and I finally found it in our travels around the historic district.

As we finished up our 2 days in Savannah, I realized that one of the places I really wanted to visit, we had cruised by on our way up and didn't realize it.  So, with Ken on board (no pun intended), we did something we swore we would never do and burn dinosaurs to back track over waters we had been through.  Soooo worth the time and 1/2 dinosaur, to visit Wormsloe Plantation, a 1736 Colonial Estate.  This estate was built by Noble Jones, who one of the original colonists who came from England with James Oglethorpe.  Oglethorpe came to America in 1733 to establish the Georgia colony and subsequently Savannah and the now famous layout of town in cellular wards with a square in the center of each.

Jones, got a 500 acre lease, about 8 miles south of Savannah.  With plans to farm the land, he began by building a fortified house as defense against the Spanish in St. Augustine and their Indian allies.  Both his home and the 8' fortified walls surrounding the home are built from tabby, a combination of line, sand, oyster shells and water.  It took 6 years to build the entire structure.  Today the ruins are the oldest in the Savannah area.  The more than 400 oak trees that line the roadway were planted Wymberley Jones De Renne in 1890s to commemorate the birth of his son.  He also built the impressive entrance and arch to celebrate his son's coming of age, in 1913.  The descendents of Noble Jones still live on the estate in a home built in 1828.

Wormsloe Plantation - Main entrance.  Over the arch is engraved '1733 Wormsloe 1913'.  1733 for when Noble Jones arrived in Savannah and 1913 for the year the arch was erected.  So very impressive with the 400 plus live oak trees lining the roadway.

Wormsloe Plantation - It was a long walk but so worth it.  We saw brides, a pregnant mom and others being professionally photographed along the way.  It truly is a beautiful setting for pictures.

In addition to ferns growing on the branches, we saw this palm plant growing in between the trunk and a branch

After a mile and half walk we got to the ruins of the fortified tabby house.  We walked the area of the house, the shoreline of Jones Narrows and the Jones family gravesite.  All so interesting and worth the detour.

Lay out of structure, above left and view from north entrance gate, above right.

Walls of one of the bastions.

Along the Jones Narrows saw the bones of an old cedar tree.  Below, can see the beautiful twistings of the wood.

Jones Family Gravesite - the original burial site of Noble Jones, d.1775 and family members.  All remains have since been moved to either Colonial Park or Bonaventure cemeteries.

With this little but great side trip behind us we leave Georgia and head for South Carolina.  About to be one state closer to good ole' Virginia.


PS from Roofus:

I am still recovering from my exercise and fresh air along the St. John's river so I did not mind the quiet time as my humans set out for long days in the Savannah area.  Besides it was hot and I'm all about the AC and snuggling into my blanket.  The only problem is I have to continually remind them that I do not like sitting in the pilot house.  I maybe an old puppy but I have a long memory, and will never forget the rocking and rolling up there when crossing the Chesapeake Bay.  They keep trying and I keep reminding them, the salon is where I belong (see my blog pic, where I am visibly anxious, pawing to get down and trying to figure out, if I jump, will I break a leg or not).  Maybe before the end of this journey, they will figure it out but beginning to think they are not that smart.  Sigh...but I love them anyway.

March 28, 2018 - St. John's River, FL (Side Trip)

We have to thank our looping buddies, Terry and Pat, on Happy Happy for this next leg of our trip, the St. John's River.  The St. John's flows down the center of the state from Jacksonville to Sanford, a 320 mile round trip, dotted with natural springs, scenic waterways and more wildlife than we have seen to this point.  So glad we did this.  Up until this point we had caught glimpses of manatee and alligators but with very little luck in capturing any photos.  This all changed with this side trip.  We left Jacksonville from Ortega Landing and headed for Green Cove Springs, name of the spring and the town.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The spring waters were clear and warm as we discovered all the springs are.  This natural spring was unique in that the town had built a park around it (pic to left) then built a community pool that was fed by the spring.  As the pool filled to capacity the excess spring waters flow back out at the end of the pool (pic to right) and then out into the St. John's River.  Would like to have tried the pool out but it was closed.  

Green Cove Springs - Sunset over St. John's River

Our next stop was in Palatka, where Terry and Dorothy, on Magic, joined us.  We walked around this charming little town and enjoyed the artful splashes and the lovely old homes with cobble stone streets.  The next morning, Ken got to experience the kick off of a fishing tournament that started a O'Dark Thirty.  Needless to say, I missed it as I remained in peaceful slumber throughout the whole thing.

Palatka Town Docks - Loved the bronze fish with lilly pads statute.  Independence and Magic in the background to the left.

Palatka - interesting to find the moss growth on power lines.  Didn't realize till then that these are air plants and can grow anywhere.  Fascinating.

As we rode our bikes through town, we came upon building art.  One with all kinds of blooming flowers (first two below) and across the street an olden day river scene of The Columbine, a paddle wheeler, moving goods and people up and down the river (last pic below).

The next morning, over 130 bass fishing boats showed up for the start of a fishing tournament.  As their start times came, there was a constant stream of boats zooming off the their get to their strategic fishing holes to find and catch that winning fish.

Palatka - As soon as the fisherman were gone, the fog rolled in.  So, we had to delay leaving till it cleared.  Last thing we wanted was to accidently find one of the fisherman at our bow.

We stayed at Astor that evening and then enjoyed the beauty of nature at every turn and the next day also as we continued on to Sanford.  Clockwise from top left, an osprey feeding its young, the beautiful sun reflected waters of the river lined with miles of lily pads, an eagle sitting at the end of a long branch just below its nest and a manatee coming up for a breathe in center of the pic.

We arrived in Sanford on March 11th, our furthest point south on the St. John's River.  Our looping buddies, Chuck and Margaret, on Francesca, were already there ahead of us.  We all headed out for an early dinner and then back to the docks.  We noticed a bit of commotion as we approached a group of our boating neighbors, which turned out to be a water moccasin snake sunning on the dock.  Not my idea of a fun moment.  After several attempts to move the snake into the water, it finally dipped into the water on its own.  I had a momentary sigh of relief only to be overcome by the sound of gunfire as the snake was blown to bits, never to disturb these docks again.  The before pic on left is of the snake (to the left of the red pipe just below the faucet outlet; brown and curled up).  The after pic on right of the snake hunters (not me, the ones with the rifles).  :)

At the end of our visit to Sanford, Ken captured a beautiful sunset and a heron with its breakfast.  Good for the heron but really bad for the fish.

The first stop of our return trip was to anchor out near Blue Springs.  After a short ride in Sparkler we got to the spring entrance and began an afternoon a pure delight.  The manatee were in abundance as they enjoyed the warm springs waters (a steady 73 degrees), found alligators sunning, birds of all kinds and schools of fish everywhere and all from a safety of a walkway on shore.  Yep, nice to see the alligators without been seen. :) 

Sparkler safely tied up outside the park entrance.

Blue Springs - All the darker shapes are manatees.  

Birds of all kinds enjoying the water and the plentiful fish.

This is as close as I got to a manatee.  He was colorful, quiet and didn't mind having his pic snapped.  Though I must admit, the real one above was much more fascinating.   Speaking of close, the alligator below was about 30' away and as it was my first up close opportunity to observed to my heart's content, 30' was good for me.  Of course being on a safe walkway above helped.

As we continued to walk to the head of the springs, we heard a woodpecker.  It took a while to find him but we did.  He's in the center of left pic, dark feathers and a red head.  The walkway took us through a topical setting of palm, cypress and pine trees.

Blue Springs - We finally made it to the source of the spring, where 102 million gallons of water flow out and into the St. John's River everyday.  It's hard to see but the center of the pic is the opening to the surface where the water bubbles up.

Our walk back down the springs was just as amazing as the trip up.  From left to right...the beauty of nature around the spring and the clear waters...this squirrel was so friendly, it went right up to the picnickers to share their lunch...this baby alligator is lying on the buoy rope which turned out to be a perfect stop to catch the rays.

Blue Springs - This huge oak tree overhead had moss all along its branches.  Really neat.

As we headed back to Independence, we cruised around our little lagoon  We saw more alligators, herons and some jumping fish.  It was a very peaceful location to spend the night.

Once we got back we continued to enjoy the scenery.  Roofus even got the opportunity to soak up some warm sunshine and get in a nap.

The day ended as it started, beautiful, clear and sunny.  But when we woke the next morning a fog had rolled in but burned off in no time to reveal another stunning day on the water.

We left Blue Springs and headed to Hontoon Island State Park.  This was an adventure of a different kind as we took to our bikes to see what the island had to offer.  We were told about an Indian Shell Mound and after following several nature trails and then a walking path through a sub-tropical forest we found it.  It is actually a midden or trash pile made by the native peoples over a 1000 years ago and is made up of shells they harvested and animal bones.  Pretty cool to be standing there knowing it was inhabited by people from so long ago.  

Hontoon Island State Park - Ken stood in front of this tree to show how big around it is.

A small section of the Indian Shell Mound and tons of shells everywhere

Swamp and forest along the walk to the Indian Shell Mound

When we got back to the boat, we found Roofus napping in this so cute pose with her front legs, we just had to get a pic.  Then we promptly decided she needed some fresh air and exercise.  At first, she was less than enamored with it and simply rooted herself to ground (center pic).  Eventually, after checking out her surroundings and resigning to the fact that we were not going to let her go back to boat until she had some fun, so got in to it (bottom right pic).

 

Our happy but tired puppy finally decided enough was enough and we headed back to the boat for a well deserved nap on her new bed, compliments of Grandma.

Over the next couple of days we anchored on Lake George and took the dinghy up to Silver Glen Springs which though clear and beautiful was filled with boaters, swimmers and happy people enjoying their weekend so we didn't linger.  I will say that this would be a great place to kayak.  We ended our trip where we started, and back in Jacksonville we re-provisioned, did some laundry, ate at Metro Diner (which was so good we went back the next day) and got ready to head into Georgia for our next adventure.

PS from Roofus:

As you can see, my humans really enjoyed this section of their looping adventure.  I will say, I did enjoy the sunny weather and even the outdoor time.  And since my humans anchored out a couple of times, I got lots of attention.  But it is time to get serious here....as I read over all these papers and plans, I don't see anything that says if we'll be home soon.  Can you give an old puppy a break and show me in this stack of papers that say "Home Sweet Dirt Home"!